1. Performance of the AntiCoincidence Detector on the GLAST Large Area Telescope
Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope
ACD Final Performance
Total efficiency can’t be directly measured on the ground: no isotropic source of charged particles available.
Now we have measured performance for all individual flight detectors, as well as their position measurements on the structure, and sample efficiency measurements at various locations on the array.
All this was put into ACD simulations to determine the detection efficiency for singly-charged relativistic particles, as well as the final backsplash probability. The backsplash simulations used the results from CERN beam exposures of tile and calorimeter emulators (Moiseev et al. 2004, Astroparticle Physics 22, 275).
ACD meets its scientific requirements with moderate margin on detection efficiency and substantial margin on backsplash.
R.C. Hartman, T.E. Johnson, A.A. Moiseev, J.F. Ormes*, and D.J. Thompson (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center), for the GLAST/LAT Collaboration
* now at University of Denver
AntiCoincidence Detector (ACD)
Silicon-strip tracker
CsI Calorimeter
ACD Performance Requirements
detection efficiency for singly charged relativistic particles (averaged over entire area).
For 300 GeV photons, the probability of false veto due to calorimeter backsplash must be less than 20%.
No more than 6% of incident -rays can interact in the ACD.
ACD contribution to the required total LAT level charged particle background rejection ratio of ~105.
Provide good photon detection efficiency for photons of 300 GeV and higher.
Maintain high LAT photon detection efficiency at all energies.
The Large Area Telescope (LAT) is designed for observations of celestial -ray sources from 20 MeV to around 500 GeV.
Margin
Requirements
Planned Operating Threshold
Why is the Anticoincidence Detector Necessary?
Detector Choice: Plastic scintillator with wavelength shifting fibers and PMT readout
(“MIP” = signal from singly-charged minimum-ionizing particle)
ACD assembled, showing the scintillator tile layout
The LAT instrument must identify cosmic -rays in a background of charged cosmic rays 3-5 orders of magnitude more intense (mainly protons and electrons).
ACD is the outermost LAT detector, surrounding the top and sides of the tracker.
The majority of the rejection power against cosmic rays will be provided by ACD.
The required efficiency for charged particle detection for the ACD is averaged over the entire area. (For entire LAT, ~ )
Minimizing backsplash and maximizing efficiency are competing requirements:
Backsplash reduction implies high threshold.
High efficiency for particle detection implies low threshold.
ACD and LAT Status
Trade-Off: Efficiency vs. Backsplash
Working area
(illustrations only, not real data)
Requirements
August 4, Completion of ACD environmental and performance tests
August 13 – ACD arrival at SLAC
August 23 – Formal acceptance of ACD by SLAC
 December – ACD integration into LAT
February 2006 – Functional tests of LAT complete. Ship to NRL for environmental tests.
Middle of 2006 – LAT shipment to SpectrumAstro for integration with the spacecraft
Spring of 2007 – Shipment of GLAST spacecraft to Kennedy Space Center for launch preparation
September Launch
Backsplash Effect
High energy photons detected by LAT create electromagnetic showers in the calorimeter.
A small fraction of shower particles can hit the ACD, creating a signal .
In some cases this signal cannot be distinguished from a charged particle signal, which must be rejected. This means that “good” -ray events, otherwise accepted, can be vetoed due to the backsplash effect.
As a result, LAT efficiency for -ray detection could degrade if measures are not taken to avoid this. EGRET experienced ~50% efficiency degradation at 10 GeV (relative to that at 1 GeV) due to this backsplash effect.
Design Approach
To suppress self-veto caused by backsplash, we segment the ACD, then ignore ACD hits that are far from the reconstructed point of entry. Optimal segmentation was determined by simulations.
To reduce signal fluctuations (origin of inefficiency), we need as much light yield as possible from the tiles. Testing showed that 1 cm thickness of plastic scintillator is enough if the spacing of wavelength-shifting fibers is 5 mm.
Also must minimize the gaps between segments (while allowing for very significant thermal expansion/contraction). Scintillator tiles overlap in one dimension; in the other direction, the gaps are covered by ribbons of scintillating fibers.
ACD being installed on GLAST LAT
Hits at these points can be ignored, because they are far from the entry point of the (possible) –ray.
Must not ignore hits here.